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Here, we'll do our best to keep you informed
of the latest happenings in the Thomas world...
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Site Renovations Continue...
June 18th, 2010
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The
Character Profile pages are being updated one by one to make them more visually appealing. The Railway Character and
Non-Railway Character pages have already been completed, with Human Characters now being expanded to include notable animals
and featuring other notable characters we've left out over the years.
The Days Out With
Thomas page will be updated too with new writings on the History of the events and how they've grown over the years to
make for a throroughly enjoyable day out. This will also include other items like Drayton Manor's Thomas Land, as well
as the original Thomas Land from Japan - of which we have exclusive photography courtesy of Truro.
Although
its become one of the premier places on the net for independent Thomas related media, the SiF Productions site is in need
of a radical makeover to make it more viable in the future. In
that, I am planning to discontinue some media and take it down off the bandwidth to create space. Old media will reappear
periodically for download as part of a 'Gone But Not Forgotten' page on the new media site. In conjunction with that,
a new layout will be made up for some pages, making media easier to find and navigate through.
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Celebrating 65 Years In Style!
May 4th, 2010
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On
Saturday, May the 1st, I had the pleasure of being invited down to the Battlefield Railway in Leicester for their
celebrations to mark the 65th Anniversary of Thomas and Friends.
Seven of these events will be held across the United Kingdom to mark the milestone, one for each region of the country. However, the organisers will have to do a great deal to reach the standards that the
Battlefield Railway set with the first one.
I was witness to the meticulous organisation of the volunteers who were setting up for the event the day before,
and the level of commitment that HIT Entertainment and Zazz Project Management had to making sure that everyone, both young
and old, had to having a good time on the day. The event was a huge success for
both the railway and for HIT Entertainment, and I cannot sing the praises of the Battlefield Railway volunteers highly enough
for their tremendous efforts, warm reception and kind natures, it was wonderful to work with you all on the day.
I pass on the same praise to the families I met at the event. There
was not a single disappointed or sad face among the massive crowds, and everyone was very polite and friendly to deal with. Five years ago I received a message from a disappointed mother who had taken her children
to the 60th Anniversary Celebrations at Hatfield House. She commented
upon poor organisation, and how little there was for the children to do and enjoy. Five
years on, it seems that HIT Entertainment are getting their celebrations very right with the help of Britain’s Heritage
Railways.
I also wish to pay tribute to the Battlefield volunteers who allowed us the opportunity to mark
the event by placing ‘The SiF Express’ headboard on Thomas for a photo.
The headboard made its debut last year on the Talyllyn Railway, being carried on Peter Sam for the first official ‘SiF
Express’, and hopefully, it should be making runs again in future!
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THE RAILWAY SERIES 42 DUE FOR RELEASE
IN 2011
April 8th, 2010
It has been confirmed by Egmont Books, liscenced publishers of
the Thomas & Friends brand, that The Railway Series will be continuing from where Thomas & Victoria
left off in 2007.
Book 42 is as yet untitled, and there is no confirmation whatsoever
on storylines or subject matter, however, we have been made aware that the book will be released in June 2011. Whether
this is a concious effort to mark the centenary of The Rev. W. Awdry is unknown, but we commend Egmont Books for adding another
title to the series, and HIT Entertainment for encompassing all areas of the Thomas brand.
We hope to have updates on the new book as time goes on, and will release new
information as and when we receive it.
INTERNET PROVIDER PROBLEMS FOR PROBOARDS
FORUMS
Thursday of 18th March, 2010
For those of you trying to visit Sodor Island Forums or
Sodor Island 3D Forums using SKY BROADBAND or BT BROADBAND
are likely to be experiencing problems accessing Proboards Forums. Proboards Support are trying to rectify the problem
along with SKY, and attempts are ongoing. There is nothing wrong with the forums or servers themselves, but there appears
to be a problem at the end of the SKY BROADBAND or BT BROADBAND end.
We urge all members who cannot currently access the forum to keep trying or
alternatively, keep checking Proboards Support for updates.
SiF SPEAK TO STEVE ASQUITH!
14th of February, 2010
Another major interview for Sodor Island Fansite with a man who spent
25 years of his life working to produce Thomas and Friends. Steve Asquith became the second official Director of the
series in 2004, taking over from David Mitton. In our interview, Steve clears up a number of rumours and mistruths,
explains a little about his own career away from Thomas, gives insight into the TV Series itself and shares his memories and
favourite moments of filmography from his twenty five years of the live-action model animation format of the series.
The interview will launch in the course of this week - so keep an eye out for
it!
BRITT REMEMBERS THE GEORGE CARLIN
SHE KNEW
June 27th, 2008
Britt Allcroft has kindly offered her condolences to the late George Carlin
by offering a message of rememberance to him, revealing to the world a side of George that not many people familiar with his
comedy routine knew - his caring and loving side as the Storyteller for the American dub of Thomas the Tank Engine
and Friends, as well as his part as Mr Conductor in Shining Time Station, as well as a personal friend to her
long after they parted professional company, who provided George with many happy times.
With some amusing anecdotes and heart-warming sentiment, here's Britt's memories
of George, as told through the LA Times:
AMERICAN STORYTELLER - GEORGE CARLIN
- PASSES AWAY
23rd June, 2008
Another blow to Thomas Fans of the older generation in the
United States
Within a month of David Mitton, we are sad to report that the man
who gave Thomas his first American voice, George Carlin, has also passed away. George died of heart-failure on the 22nd
of June, after being taken to hospital complaining of chest pains.
George was the first proper American storyteller for Thomas the
Tank Engine between 1991 and 1995, allowing American children to engage with the characters in their own native accent, and
therefore allowing Thomas to thrive more readily in the American market. In
that time, he told the stories for Series 3 and 4, as well as retelling the original material that Ringo Starr had
put out previously and rebranding it for the American audience.
He followed in Ringo's footsteps again as he became Shining
Time Station's second resident storyteller, the eighteen-inch tall, Mr Conductor, playing Ringo's cousin
after his character went off to the North Pole. George played the character for two full seasons of the show as well
as the remaining specials prior to Shining Time Station going into syndication in the mid 1990s.
George left the series to pursue his comedy act, and in 1998, Alec
Baldwin took up the role of Thomas's American storyteller, and after which, became the third and last person to don the blue
Mr Conductor suit for Thomas and the Magic Railroad. George went on to star in other movie roles such
as 1998's Dogma with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, as well as carrying on his comedy stage act and touring across
the US.
Although not as widely regarded as Ringo Starr is for his contribution
to Thomas, fans across the world owe a lot to George Carlin. He was a masterful storyteller and the way he crossed the
barriers of his comedy content to entertaining children across the world is undoubtedly a testament to him.
George Carlin - Rest In Peace!
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